The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) has ousted its director-in-charge, Sahadeb Sarkar, following a sexual harassment complaint against him, as stated by the institute in a late Tuesday evening announcement. The decision to remove Sarkar was made based on the recommendations of the internal complaints committee (ICC), and an investigation into the allegations is currently underway.
In response to the situation, IIM-C promptly appointed the next senior-most faculty member, Professor Saibal Chattopadhyay, as the director-in-charge with immediate effect.
The institute released a statement, indicating, "The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the institute has received a written complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) against the then Director-in-Charge Professor Sahadeb Sarkar. The ICC has determined that, prima facie, the complaint warrants a formal inquiry and has communicated the same to the Board of Governors (BoG)."
The decision to remove Sarkar was made to ensure impartiality in the inquiry process, aligning with the principles of natural justice. The IIM-C Board of Governors convened a special meeting on January 6, 2024, and endorsed the ICC's recommendation that Professor Sahadeb Sarkar should not continue in the role of Director-in-Charge. He is to be removed from the post, as well as any other position with administrative responsibilities in IIM Calcutta, pending the formal inquiry before the ICC and any subsequent proceedings.
Sarkar's removal marks the third instance in three years where an IIM director has left their position before the expiration of their tenure.
